PEF: Innovative Language Learning at Sierra Madre Middle School

Happy Teacher Tuesday! This week, the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) is celebrating the creativity of Xiaoyuan Qu, a dedicated Mandarin teacher at Sierra Madre Middle School. With the support of a PEF Teacher Grant, Xiaoyuan is transforming her classroom into a hub of creativity and collaboration. Through self-publishing projects, Xiaoyuan and her students are exploring new, engaging ways to learn Mandarin—bringing language, culture, and storytelling to life. Her work exemplifies how PEF Teacher Grants empower educators to turn inspired ideas into meaningful learning experiences.

Read more about her innovative project here => https://pasedfoundation.org/2025/10/28/teacher-grant-spotlight-xiaoyuan-qu/

Sierra Madre Middle School, 160 N. Canon Avenue, Sierra Madre, (626) 396-5910 or visit https://smms.pusd.us/.

About Pasadena Educational Foundation

Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for public education, engages the community, and develops resources to support excellence and equity for all Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students. Whether it be through the arts, music, health centers, gardens, or STEM programs they support, PEF is dedicated to creating a better future for the public school students of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF), 351 South Hudson Ave. RM 153, Pasadena, (626) 396-3625 or visit pasedfoundation.org.